The World We Once Knew

by Trahan, Leeaja

  Huffing out her nerves, Quinta ran the back of her arm across face which only smeared the mess on her features. With her blood pressure and adrenaline pumping through her veins, she glanced over at Mike who still was in the midst to reload his gun with shaken hands. Rubbing her palm across her shoulder to rub it, the girls muffled cries emitted from the man's chest.

  Quinta looked to Dane who finished off his predator with ease it seemed with her finger pressed to her lips; quiet to hear anything else that threatened them. Too bad their “leader” had just shoved the clip into his gun and held it out in a random direction as though he were on the ready as well.

  Looking back at Quinta, he then briefly glared at Mike, and shook his head. Nodding to Quinta, they all waited for a few moments. The man pushed Tabitha's face closer into his chest to stifle her cries. For the time being there weren't any more inclinations of movement.

  Finally speaking, Dane pointed around, “Get what we need and let's go.”

  Mike's eyes narrowed at Dane as Quinta simply disappeared into one bathroom and then the other, both destroyed beyond recognition but all in all safe. She returned to the room to find that Dane gave instructions to the group; as he should have. Mike surely proved what kind of leader he truly was.

  Stepping over the body, Dane left an imprint of his shoe behind him while he made his way over to Tabitha. She still shivered uncontrollably as she watched Dane pull a pistol from the holster along his waist. Gripping onto the barrel, he held it out to her. He couldn't believe the sanctuary hadn't given her anything to defend herself with.

  “Only use this if you need to. It's loud. Don't do anything stupid.” He whispered to her.

  Looking to the two huddled in the corner, Quinta spoke to them while Dane handed Tabitha a weapon, “Get da paper. Break open da female 'ygiene and take all da tampons and pads. Empty it yuh 'ave no worries, it's clear.” She reassured them. Passing by Mike with a look of disgust plain as day on her face, she went behind the bar, “Me got da registers. Make yuhself useful and do sometin’.” Quinta demanded Mike in an authoritative tone.

  She no longer had the patience to play games with him.

  Quinta's nostrils flared out in her anger. She threw her bag on the counter's surface and pulled a crowbar from a side pouch. Fiddling with the drawer, she leaned her weight back and began to pry the register open. For the first time since they started, Mike was silent. There wasn't a smart comeback, there weren’t stupid antics, no he disappeared in the kitchen and did his job; thankfully. But knowing this man, after he'd licked his wounds and pride, he'd be right back to the same obnoxious shit.

  As Tabitha and the man went to clear the bathroom, Quinta busied herself just as Dane at told her. Things were back on track and the mission was at the forefront of everyone's mind. So, they

  thought. When Mike retreated into the kitchen with his pride wounded, Dane decided that he should follow. Stopping short, Dane watched Mike hold his gun out and erratically turn one way from the other, while he glanced all around in search for his shot at glory. Dane stared at him incredulously because there was nothing left to embarrass himself with. With a heavy sigh, Mike set his gun on the counter, and began to open cupboards. This man could not be so dim to separate himself from his weapon.

  A thick layer of tension settled in the silence between the two men. Dane went to work opening cabinets and sifting through the moldy, rotting food in search for the cans. Keeping his senses open to Mike and the gun that rested behind him, he would cautiously throw a glance over his shoulder to see Mike doing the same as he. The last thing Dane needed was a shot to the back because this man couldn't handle any shame brought onto him.

  Dane didn't trust Mike in the least and the feeling was mutual from the other party. Although, Mike's reasons were ones filled with bitter and ego driven resentment. Minding his own business, Dane piled can after can into his bag until Mike bumped against him. Pausing, Dane glanced down to see Mike pass him by and busy himself in the walk in. Shaking his head, Dane continued his search only to have Mike nudge into him again. This time was quite clear that Mike was messing around and wasting time instead of getting the job done. Mike's main goal in that kitchen was to rile Dane up and intentionally shove him each time he passed. Eventually Dane stopped what he was doing, turned, and looked at him with a warning in his eyes.

  Mike only sneered with certain superior body language, confronting Dane first, “What? Are you going to put me in my place? You think you're the boss? Listen kid. I've been on more runs than you'll survive for. I said I'd take care of everything so open your damn ears and listen to me. You'll be thanking ME by the end of today.” Mike bragged.

  Dane let him say what he wanted and used all his strength to keep calm because the atmosphere in that room was a hair away from a physical fight. Obviously, Mike was intimidated by any other man young and fit enough to overshadow him and his pride.

  “...Are you finished?” Dane questioned with an unreadable expression.

  Without waiting to receive an answer, Dane turned around again and packed the last two cans on his half of the kitchen and slung the bag over his back. Without another look or word towards Mike, he left him behind with himself in hopes that maybe now that he was hidden he'd do his job.

  Pulling all the money and coins she could find from within the cash drawer, Quinta stored the money away in a sealed bag to distribute between the five of them at the end of the day. Doing the same with the other drawer, she made her way towards the main office down from the bathrooms. The blade of her machete met with the grain of the door and with a creak, pushed it open for her to peer inside. There were papers scattered all over the place, the drawers were open with the contents spilled onto the floor beside a cracked computer screen.

  The room was in complete disarray and by the looks of the curtains being yanked off the window it appeared the last moments here were anything but peaceful. There was no body which only left Quinta to assume that the owner had either fled during the outbreak or that he stayed and somehow wandered into the bathroom. She would never know. After a couple minutes of searching the drawers in the desk, Quinta sighed out in a frustrated manner. There was nothing salvageable and the safe was too complicated to waste time on and too large to transport. They were going to have to mark this for special forces to come back to. Taking a few pens and other small items that wouldn't be missed, she sighed out and returned to the main room. Seeming as though she were the only one who finished, she was about to see how the two in the bathrooms were doing before Dane exited the kitchen.

  Shaking his head, Dane nodded to Quinta, “Finished?”

  Turning half around, she cleared her throat and wet her lips, “Yeah. Yuh tink dere's a utility room around 'ere? One dat 'as extra supplies to restock dis place.” She questioned to him. Humming, her eyes darted around before she stepped and paused to look back at him, “Dey 'ave a safe back in da office. Dey may 'ave another room full of paper but it's too much for us. We can fill up 'ere and never make it for da tools and what not. Should we stay or go? Put it down as incomplete?” She asked Dane.

  On cue, Mike pushed himself through the double doors.

  He heard the conversation, and was quick to cut Dane off so he could make the final decision, “We keep moving sweetheart. We can't waste our space for toilet paper and other shit that the next group can come to get. Leave some for them, sometimes it's good to make others feel useful.” He stated. He then cupped his hand over his mouth and called for the other two, even though they were already stepping into view, “HEY! You two stop making out and let’s split. I say we skip all the in between buildings and hit the big establishments first. Then if we have time, we work as we go back.” He ordered. Mike impatiently waved his fingers over to Quinta, “Give me the map, the map, the map.” Rolling her eyes, Quinta pulled out what he wanted and handed it over only to have it snatched from her fingers, “We'll go to the Jeep car dealership next, cool. It's right next to an auto shop that's perfect, g
et ready.” Mike said as he handed the map back to Quinta.

  Dane cringed inside and slowly dragged his eyes in this moron's direction. Mike once again made a display of himself and made one of the dumbest decisions. A car dealership of all places and , Dane was far from a fan of the idea.

  The older gentleman rolled his jaw before he opened his mouth and his voice was finally heard, “Mike...what the hell are we going to find there?” He questioned.

  With his hand held up, Mike silenced him, “Shh, shh. We don't know that's the beauty of it. There could be several items we need and we won't know until we go look. So, keep out of it Thomas and let me guide you. Now like I said, get ready.” Mike snapped.

  Quinta stared at Mike with her eyebrow high in the air. Although he had a point that they didn't need to waste their space on just restaurant supplies, hitting a dealership seemed stupid and a waste of time. Shaking her head, Quinta just bent down to her knees and repacked her bag. She simply wanted to get the hell out of there and finish the day in her home, in her bed. By not wasting time arguing with Mike and hearing him blow words from his asshole, she was going to shut up and rush if it kept him quiet.

  At the end of the decision, Dane held a similar expression to Quinta as he went ahead and secured his pack. Taking down the barricade, Dane decided that no matter what they decided to do they couldn't afford to waste any more time. And when he felt that time was no longer on their side, he would leave Michael there in a heartbeat with Quinta in tow. Dane could feel eyes on his back as he dragged the bench away from the door only to look over his shoulder to see Mike quickly turn his head away.

  Helping Dane undo the barricade, Quinta kept meeting eyes with Dane that read of pure hate and disgust for the man they were stuck with. What was supposed to be an easy raid and attempt had turned for the worse.

  Tabitha held the gun up in her hands with a wide-eyed expression because she didn’t know what the hell to do with it.

  Thomas took it from her grasp, “Why don't you let me hold that for you Tabitha.” He whispered to her while he stuffed it in his back pocket.

  She could only nod her head to agree. Waving the others to go, Mike was now the one at the back of the group with his own underlying intentions of saving himself it the time arose.

  Looking around to see that the coast was clear, Dane pressed his finger to his lips and motioned for them to follow. Going where their “guide” told them, he half expected Mike to pull another antic which would cause Dane's headache to grow from his bottled agitation and stress from this situation. Again, Dane couldn't shake the thought of how many scavengers lost their lives to this man's idiocy. One thing was for sure, he nor Quinta were going to be made a tally.

  Following Dane out, Quinta continuously glanced back at the other three before they made their way down the abandoned street. She could practically see the “wealth” that was hidden in the crumbling buildings. Even though she wanted to stop and raid at least one, she knew that stopping would cause Mike to open his mouth. The fact was it was quiet and peaceful without his constant stupidity; for once. That was worth missing out in her eyes.

  Quinta's eyebrows then tucked together before she finally realized just how quiet it was. Not a gurgle, not one shift, nothing. The hairs on the back of her neck rose while those light brown eyes now darted from each door and window they passed with a new sense of fear. Where were they? Were they being watched?

  Within fifteen minutes in the blazing sun, the group made it to the dealership which was nothing more than a long white building with a dark blue roof. Quinta watched Dane pass by the abandoned jeeps and up to the lone glass door.

  With her hands on her hips, Quinta took in the sights of the dirtied exterior, raggedy road that it rested on, and just the poor upkeep of the establishment even before the outbreak. This was the big find, this was the place Michael wanted to scout out, a dingy warehouse that looked as though it was on its way out before the time.

  Dane wiped the sweat from his brow as he tried the front doors with false hope. Hearing the tension of the lock against the door, all eyes fell onto Mike and his executive decision on what to do next. The previous owners seemingly had sense to stay indoors when they saw what went on outside.

  Dane turned around and fixed his sight, “Now what?” He asked Mike expectantly.

  They were now sitting ducks and exposed because of Mike's half brained whims.

  Scoffing out as though Dane was the sole reason the place wasn't “open”, Mike then waved his hand to show he was thinking off the top of his head, “This is what we'll do. See this laundromat? Let's get in there. There could be clothes or money. Then this auto repair shop? We'll get some tools and whatever looks useful. Then I was thinking we can break into this baby, take a pair of keys, and see if we can drive one of these beauties out of here.” Mike said with a laugh.

  He felt as though his plan was ingenious. Too bad there was a fine line between genius and insanity.

  Dane's eyebrows tucked together and the grip on his bat tightened, “A car? Are you...”

  Trailing off, Dane was about to ask him if he was insane on reaction before he realized the outcome was only going to cause a scene. A possibility of that with Mike, out in the open for all decaying ears to hear, was one thing that they needed to avoid. Instead, Dane shook his head in silent disapproval.

  Once again Quinta's eyebrow rose high in the air. She could almost see the stupidity that rattled in this man's brain and out of his mouth.

  Tabitha tried to speak up before she flinched at him; silencing her, “It's a plan. Let's split up, I'll take the tools with uh Tweedle-dee and Tweedledum here.” Mike started. He then pointed to Dane, “You and the sweetheart seem quite fond of each other. I don't know why to be honest she could do better, but you guys raid the laundromat. Do you both think you can handle that? Good. Meet back in this spot in let's say an hour. Alright? Excellent. Let's move out.” Mike ordered as he turned away from Dane and Quinta. Pointing in the direction he was going, he spoke up, “Let's go you two, I don't have all day. I want to get my car.”

  While they made their way towards the laundromat, Dane felt a touch anxious for the other two but at least he caught a break. Rubbing the back of her hand against her forehead, Quinta blew out and in an instant, she was relieved in the shade from the harsh sun. Of course, she was greeted with a heated, musky space but it was better than nothing.

  Quinta aired out her shirt for a moment before she helped Dane set up a barricade per protocol, which entailed of chairs stacked against each other beneath the handle. Blocking the door as before, they were alone in the dusty, desolate space which contrasted with the bright colors of waves and bubbles that were painted along the walls. The old dryers lined the walls with a dated, wood paneled decor.

  Making his way past Quinta, who was bent over to secure the last chair, Dane pat against her back to gain her attention while he pointed to signal that he would clear it. Quinta straightened her back as her gaze followed his finger only to nod her head. Listening with his ear against each door, he'd go in and check, while she stayed behind.

  Slowly, Quinta pulled the straps from her heated shoulders. Taking the bag with her, she would hike it up on one machine, check inside for anything useful and change before going to the next.

  While he did the safety routine, Dane was distracted in thought about what Mike had said. Through the filth and the vile temperament, one thing stood out above all else. Quinta and he were close from having known each other from before but that was all, right? He was interested yet confused on that topic and the more he thought the more ambiguous to him it became.

  When he returned to the main room a few minutes later, he caught sight of Quinta at the third machine. She held a soft, pink crocheted top in her hands. Something about her stuck to the front of his mind as he went to the dryer and search for clothes. A soft smirk appeared on her lips as she admired the details before she lowered the article and see Dane already on his search. Rolling th
e top up, Quinta stuffed it in her back and began to pick up the pace through her exhaustion to match Dane.

  After a few moments of silence, Dane spoke up, “It's clear over there. No toilet paper though I did find some interesting things in the office. I had to break the knob to get in though.” He said towards her.

  Speaking to him lowly, she'd check the bottom of the washers for loose change before the other pieces of clothes, “Ah yeah? Wut yuh see dat was so funny? Because me nah tink nuttin funnier den Mike's batty hole bein misplaced wit 'is mouth.” She whispered with a chuckle.

  Busy at work by her side, Dane picked off loose change and salvageable clothes. He found himself with a broad grin while he kept the conversation going and indulged in a relaxed moment.

  “It looks like someone stacked a castle out of beer bottles in there. The best part is, I think it's Pre-Dead Era.” He said to her.

  Dane guessed this by the fact that the door was locked and the bills were open on the desk and stained with old beer. The laundromat owner was either miserable or did not care enough about his business to run it properly. Taking a look around at their surroundings, Dane couldn't exactly blame them for their laid-back attitude, the place was run-down before the dead roamed.

  Looking over at Dane for a moment before she grabbed her bag and moved around him to the next machine, Quinta subdued a laugh, “Oh me want to see dat before we leave.” She responded.

  Seeing that Dane was doing the same thing as she was, only she had to “shop” for both her and Addie, she glanced up at Dane. He was quite an awkward size and the odds of someone washing clothes to match him was slim.

  Holding up several men's shirts, they were a just a little too short almost every time. Steadily Dane began to lose interested until he came across a 3X sweater with an owl printed across the front. Holding it up to himself, the sweater was far too large and ugly. But he truly could not choose what was there for the taking. Turning to Quinta, he loosened up around her which spoke volumes since she was one of the few he let his guard down for; aside from Addie.